PCSL

Kamloops, BC — The Kamloops Heat are beginning to feel exactly that as they look at the standings in the Pacific Coast Soccer League’s Women’s Reserve Division. With five matches to go in the regular season, the Heat find themselves in first place (7-1 record, 21 points). They are five points ahead of second place Penticton Pinnacles going into this weekend (June 20-21).

“Anything can happen in a match so we have to be sharp for every team we play,” says Heat head coach Tom McManus. “The fact we are sitting in first place means every team in the league wants to knock us off.”

The Heat travel to the Lower Mainland this weekend for matches Saturday (June 20) against the North Shore Girls Soccer Club Stars and Sunday (June 21) at Trinity Western in Langley against the Fraser Valley Action. This will be the first meeting of the year between Kamloops and the North Shore (2-4-1). And the second matchup in as many weeks with the Action (3-1-3). Kamloops downed Fraser Valley 3-0 at Hillside Stadium last Saturday (June 13).

“The team has done very well so far,” says McManus when he looks at how the Heat has developed over the last few weeks. “It is important that they continue to play with discipline and not take anything for granted. I would say right now that we are at 80 % of where I’d like them to be.”

McManus is quick to say that it has been a team effort attributing to his teams success so far. But in the last few games, TRU WolfPack midfielder Jessie Lebert (Kamloops, BC) has started to come into her own. “She is an extremely hard worker, “ he says “She has a never say die attitude. I like that in a player. She really isn’t doing anything differently. She is a solid player with a good sense for goals.”

McManus is being cautious as he looks at the rest of the regular season. “We don’t look too far ahead of ourselves so we’ll continue to take every match as it comes. If you look too far ahead, it can come back and bite you in the butt so we don’t want that to happen. Keeping focused is important.”

THROW –INS: The Heat’s next home match is Sunday June 28 th, 1230pm against Semiahamoo FC at Hillside Stadium.